Factors associated with Chlamydia trachomatis testing in a high school based screening and previously in clinical practice: a cross-sectional study in Norway

Abstract Background: Early detection of scoliosis is of great significance to patients with scoliosis and the whole society. This paper aims to learn the prevalence of scoliosis screening positive among students in primary and secondary schools, and to explore the influencing factors. Methods: In 2019, a stratified cluster sampling technique was employed in this school based cross-sectional study. Sampling covers all prefecture level cities in Zhejiang Province. Based on the whole class, at least 80 students in each grade of primary school, junior high school and senior high school were selected. Physical examination and scoliosis screening were performed in the school-based investigation. Distribution of demographic characteristics and nutritional status of children and adolescents with scoliosis screening positive were explored. Results: A total of 45547 students were screened. The overall prevalence of children and adolescents with scoliosis screening positive were 3.9%. Higher prevalence of scoliosis screening positive was found in students living in urban area (4.1%), female students (4.1%), students with low weight (5.3%) (p < 0.05), and the prevalence increased with age (p < 0.05). In logistic analysis, we found age (OR=1.145), gender (OR=1.118) and low weight (OR=1.480) were the influencing factors for prevalence of scoliosis screening positive (p < 0.05). Conclusions: There were no disparities between living areas, but there was significant difference between genders, among different ages, and among different nutritional status of children and adolescents with or without scoliosis screening positive. In multi analysis, age, gender, and low weight were the influencing factors for prevalence of scoliosis screening positive. Age and gender specific scoliosis screening strategy and nutritional public health policies for children and adolescent are need.

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Soil-transmitted helminthiasis in children of a rural community part of a school-based deworming program: a cross-sectional study in the Peruvian Amazon

10.1101/458661 ◽

2018 ◽

Author(s):

Renato A. Errea ◽

George Vasquez-Rios ◽

María L. Calderon ◽

Diego Siu ◽

Kevin R. Duque ◽

...

Keyword(s):

Drug Administration ◽

Rural Community ◽

Ascaris Lumbricoides ◽

Strongyloides Stercoralis ◽

Cross Sectional Study ◽

Peruvian Amazon ◽

Sectional Study ◽

Cross Sectional ◽

Factors Associated ◽

School Based

ABSTRACTBackgroundChildren in the Peruvian Amazon basin are at risk of soil-transmitted helminthiases (STH). The aim of this study was to determine the prevalence of STH (Ascaris lumbricoides, Trichuris trichiura, hookworm and Strongyloides stercoralis) in children from a rural community in the Peruvian Amazon and associated clinical, maternal, sanitation and hygiene factors associated. The community had an active school-based deworming program with mebendazole.MethodsA cross-sectional study was carried out in children aged 2–14 years in Iquitos, Peru; by parasitological analysis of their stools through five methods: direct smear examination, Kato-Katz, spontaneous sedimentation in tube, Baermann method modified by Lumbreras and agar plate culture. Mothers of the participating children were also invited to participate in the study. A questionnaire was completed by each participant to collect demographic and epidemiological information of interest.ResultsAmong 124 children, 25.8% (32/124) had one or more STH. Prevalence of A. lumbricoides was 16.1% (20/124); S. stercoralis, 10.5% (13/124); hookworm, 1.6% (2/124) and T. trichiura, 1.6% (2/124). STH in mothers was higher in children with any STH than in children without any STH (36.4% vs 14.1%, p<0.02). Prevalence of the common STH (A. lumbricoides, T. trichiura and hookworm) was higher in children aged 2–5 than in older children (31.6% vs 12.8%; p=0.01). Several hygiene and sanitation deficits were identified; of which walking barefoot was significantly associated with STH infection (OR= 3.28; 95% CI= 1.11–12.07).ConclusionsSTH are highly prevalent in children in this community; A. lumbricoides and S. stercoralis infections were the most frequent. Further studies should aim to understand the persistent high prevalence of common STH in endemic areas where massive drug administration is practiced, and to determine the appropriateness of controlling STH in mothers and S. stercoralis infection. Walking barefoot and other hygiene and sanitation conditions need to be addressed in this community.AUTHOR SUMMARYFew studies assessing soil-transmitted helminth infections in children and their risk factors have yet been conducted in the Peruvian Amazon. Even fewer reports exist from areas where mass drug administration programs have been initiated. In this study we provide insight to the frequency of soil-transmitted helminths in a setting with an ongoing school-based deworming program.Besides the most common soil-transmitted helminths (Ascaris lumbricoides, Trichuris trichiura and hookworm), we assessed the prevalence of Strongyloides stercoralis. Excluding the latter from intestinal helminths studies have often underestimate its frequency and impact in children.We also surveyed for helminth infection in the mothers of the participating children as infection in caregivers could theoretically be associated with infection in children as they both may share same environmental and behavioral factors associated with STH infections. To our knowledge, this is the first Peruvian study assessing children and mother infection together.In addition, our results highlight the suboptimal hygiene and sanitation conditions in which people from this rural community live. It likely represents the situation of other rural Amazonian communities in Peru. Public efforts are needed to provide these populations with dignified living conditions and to follow the equity global health agenda.

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Prevalence of myopia and high myopia, and the association with education: Shanghai Child and Adolescent Large-scale Eye Study (SCALE): a cross-sectional study

BMJ Open ◽

10.1136/bmjopen-2020-048450 ◽

2021 ◽

Vol 11 (12) ◽

pp. e048450

Author(s):

Xiangui He ◽

Padmaja Sankaridurg ◽

Shuyu Xiong ◽

Wayne Li ◽

Thomas Naduvilath ◽

...

Keyword(s):

High Myopia ◽

Large Scale ◽

Public Awareness ◽

Cross Sectional Study ◽

Sectional Study ◽

Cross Sectional ◽

Factors Associated ◽

Education And Health ◽

School Based ◽

The Impact

ObjectivesTo report on: (a) overall myopia and high myopia prevalence, and (b) the impact of education on the spherical equivalent refractive error in children across Shanghai.DesignCross-sectional study.SettingAcross all 17 districts of Shanghai.Participants910 245 children aged 4–14 years from a school-based survey conducted between 2012 and 2013.Main outcome measuresData of children with non-cycloplegic autorefraction, visual acuity assessment and questionnaire were analysed (67%, n=6 06 476). Prevalence of myopia (≤−1.0 D) and high myopia (≤−5.0 D) was determined. We used a regression discontinuity design to determine the impact of school entry cut-off date (1 September) by comparing refractive errors at each age, for children born pre-September to post-1 September, and performed a multivariate analysis to explore risk factors associated with myopia. Data analysis was performed in 2017–2018.ResultsPrevalence rates of myopia and high myopia were 32.9% (95% CI: 32.8% to 33.1%) and 4.2% (95% CI: 4.1% to 4.2%), respectively. From 6 years of age onwards, children born pre-September were more myopic compared with those born post-1 September (ahead in school by 1 year, discontinuity at 6 years: −0.19 D (95% CI: −0.09 to −0.30 D); 14 years: −0.67 D (95% CI: −0.21 to −1.14 D)).ConclusionsOur findings suggest that myopia is associated with education, that is primarily focused on near-based activities. Efforts to reduce the burden should be directed to public awareness, reform of education and health systems.

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